Kirill Marchenko (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
On October 18, 2025, the Gold Star Hockey agency, led by Dan Milstein, celebrated its 25th anniversary. As Milstein wrote on X, “Twenty–five years ago today, in a tiny office in Ann Arbor – a space so small it once served as a closet – the Gold Star story began. There was no grand budget or roadmap, just a dream, determination, and a desire to help others achieve theirs.”
Over the past quarter-century, Gold Star has grown into one of the most recognizable agencies in professional hockey. According to PuckPedia, it currently represents 64 active NHL contracts across 27 teams, carrying a combined cap hit of $131.5 million. RG spoke with Milstein about some of his clients – and his perspective on today’s NHL market, which has already seen several major and symbolic signings early in the 2025–26 season.
Demidov, Zharovsky, and Montreal’s Young Core
– One of the biggest stories last season was Ivan Demidov’s arrival in Montreal. Expectations are sky–high – oddsmakers even had him as the clear favorite for the Calder Trophy before the season. Is that pressure getting to him?
– Not at all. He deleted all social media from his phone and completely disconnected from the media. I’m not even sure he knows about the betting odds – we’ve never talked about them. Ivan focuses only on hockey and family. He spent the entire summer in Canada training and preparing.
His personal stats don’t really matter to him. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t even track analytics the way fans or journalists do. He just wants to help his team win – that’s what drives him. His dream is to bring the Stanley Cup back to Montreal for the first time since 1993.
– And from a marketing standpoint?
– Montreal is a fantastic market for him. There’s hardly a day that goes by without someone offering him a new sponsorship deal.
– The Canadiens also drafted forward Alexander Zharovsky in the second round this year, 34th overall. He’s playing big minutes in Ufa and showing strong progress. What’s his ceiling?
– He has every chance not only to reach the NHL but to become a leader there. Montreal worked hard to get him. They tried to trade up with Chicago and Carolina to select him in the first round but couldn’t make it happen. Carolina was deciding between goalie Semyon Frolov and Zharovsky but ultimately chose Frolov with the 41st overall pick — and that’s why they traded their earlier pick to the Canadiens, who finally got their guy. The Canadiens were nervous – they’d wanted him since the middle of the first round. Their head scout, Nick Bobrov, followed him closely and believes strongly in his potential.
Rising Stars: Simashev, Marchenko, Parekh, and Gridin
– Defenseman Dmitry Simashev made his NHL debut this season with Utah. How has that transition gone?
– His relationship with the organization has been great from the start. He knew what he needed to work on, and the team knew what they were getting. He even turned down a very good offer from Lokomotiv because he’d promised to come to North America within a year – and he kept that promise.
A lot of credit goes to Mikhail Sergachev. He took Simashev into his home, helped him with everything – even day–to–day life. Misha really took him under his wing. Without Sergachev, things would’ve been much tougher. Now Dmitry’s already looking for his own place since the team told him he’ll stay on the main roster for the rest of the season.
– Kirill Marchenko told RG in May that he wants to hit 100 points this season. Is that realistic?
– Kirill is doing everything right. He reviews all his games with Sergei Samsonov — a former NHL player and now Gold Star’s Director of Player Development — who’s closely involved in his progress. They spend a lot of time together. Sergachev also trained with him this summer. They had a great group in Moscow preparing for the season. Kirill is a true self–made player, but he never stops learning. He constantly asks questions, studies others, and watches clips on YouTube. Sometimes he even asks us to cut together video comparisons of other players. He’s a student of the game who keeps improving every day.
– Zayne Parekh, drafted ninth overall by Calgary in 2024, is another of your clients. What can we expect from him this year?
– The plan is for him to spend the full season with the Flames and continue developing in all areas. He’s a very talented player who’s only going to get better.
– Matvei Gridin also debuted with Calgary but was sent to the AHL after four games and one goal. How did he handle that?
– Matvei is an NHL player – no question. He’s been through a lot. He was born in Kurgan and grew up in Khabarovsk, where his father coached him as well as Vitaly Kravtsov and Artem Zub. He came to North America at 16, had to adjust to a new culture, learn the language, and deal with limited ice time. But he kept working. By his second season, he was one of the top players in the USHL, and last year in Shawinigan (QMJHL), he was excellent again. When he was sent to the AHL, he didn’t complain – he just said, “I’ll go there and get better.” That’s the right mindset. I’m sure we’ll see him back with the Flames soon, and fans will enjoy watching him play.
Askarov, Privalov, and the Next Wave
– What’s next for Yaroslav Askarov in San Jose?
– (Director of Goaltending) Evgeni Nabokov helps him a lot – not just on the ice but in everyday life. The Sharks are rebuilding. They’re young, promising, and need patience. As the owner said, the goal is to fight for the playoffs in about a year. Yaroslav is a total professional. He just needs to stay patient and grow with the team.
– It’s still early, but 16–year–old Nazar Privalov from CSKA’s junior team is off to an incredible start – 15 goals in 14 MHL games against older players. What’s his upside?
– The 2027 NHL Draft will be a big one for Russian players, and Privalov is a complete player. He’s doing everything right. He just needs to refine some details, but next year he should be ready for the KHL and to play against men. He has a legitimate chance to be the No. 1 overall pick in 2027.
There’s also 16–year–old defenseman Vladimir Shtyrkhunov from the same team – with proper development, he could go top–five. He’s an elite skater, the kind of defenseman Russia hasn’t produced in years. His potential is enormous. Coach Mikhail Deev has built a really exciting group there.
– Vitaly Kravtsov is making another push to return to the NHL. He signed with Vancouver but started the season in the AHL.
– Vitaly is working hard and knows what he needs to do. I’ve seen rumors about him going back to Russia – that’s false. He’s staying, focused, and waiting for his opportunity to prove himself with the Canucks. His mindset is exactly where it needs to be.
